Beauty equipment trends for UK salons in 2026

From a salon owners perspective, here are perhaps the top 5 interesting types of beauty equipment commercially

1. Hydradermabrasion / Aqua Facial

This is probably one of the most attractive options for a conventional beauty salon because it can be incorporated into affordable repeat facial programmes, rather than relying on occasional high price treatments. UK salon-equipment suppliers are currently highlighting hydradermabrasion as commercially versatile, particularly because it can be combined with skincare and LED treatments.

2. LED therapy

LED therapy (light-emitting diode phototherapy) is popular in salons because it's non-invasive, generally comfortable, and can be added to facials with little downtime. LED is relatively easy to incorporate into existing facials and has relatively low treatment complexity.

Main potential benefits

• Red light — commonly used to help reduce inflammation and support skin repair. There is some evidence for improvements in skin rejuvenation, although results vary by device and treatment protocol.
• Blue light — primarily used for acne-prone skin. Research suggests it can reduce acne lesions in some people, but the evidence isn't uniformly strong and studies vary considerably.
• Red + blue combination — often used in acne treatments, combining the two approaches. Some clinical studies have reported meaningful improvements in inflammatory acne.
• Near-infrared (NIR) — used in some professional systems for photobiomodulation and skin-repair applications; evidence is promising for certain uses but shouldn't be interpreted as proof that every NIR salon device will produce the same results.

Red/NIR and blue-light applications are particularly prominent. Consumer awareness of LED therapy is also high in Britain—47% of adults surveyed by YouGov said they were aware of LED light-therapy devices.

3. IPL and laser

Hair removal remains a major beauty-tech category. YouGov found that laser hair-removal devices were the most recognised beauty-tech device category in Great Britain, with 71% awareness.

For salons, though, this is a much bigger investment than a facial machine. Professional IPL systems can run into the tens of thousands of pounds; for example, current UK listings include professional IPL equipment above £20,000.

4. RF skin tightening

RF is an interesting premium category because it allows salons/clinics to offer non-invasive facial rejuvenation. The wider UK aesthetic-device market is increasingly centred around non-invasive technologies, with energy-based platforms accounting for a substantial share of the market.

5. Microdermabrasion

Still a very practical salon technology. It's relatively affordable, familiar to therapists and easy to build into facial packages.

For example, current UK listings include professional microdermabrasion machines around the £90–£550 range depending on specification.

Direct Salon Furniture has been supplying beauty equipment to the UK salon and spa industry for over 20 years. We have built up considerable knowledge of the available products for this sector, their use, maintenance and potential for increasing salon profits. We are always happy to offer help and advice.